Abstract

In this study, release of abundant amounts of the Ebola virus (EBOV) surface glycoprotein GP in a soluble form from virus‐infected cells was investigated. We demonstrate that the mechanism responsible for the release of GP is ectodomain shedding mediated by cellular sheddases. Proteolytic cleavage taking place at amino‐acid position D637 removes the transmembrane anchor and liberates complexes consisting of GP1 and truncated GP2 (GP2Δ) subunits from the cell surface. We show that tumor necrosis factor α‐converting enzyme (TACE), a member of the ADAM family of zinc‐dependent metalloproteases, is involved in EBOV GP shedding. This finding shows for the first time that virus‐encoded surface glycoproteins are substrates for ADAMs. Furthermore, we provide evidence that shed GP is present in significant amounts in the blood of virus‐infected animals and that it may play an important role in the pathogenesis of infection by efficiently blocking the activity of virus‐neutralizing antibodies.

Introduction

Many cellular membrane‐anchored glycoproteins are shed from the cell surface upon proteolytic cleavage, a process referred to as ectodomain shedding (Hooper et al, 1997; Müllberg et al, 2000). This process affects structurally and functionally different proteins, including growth factors, precursors of cytokines and their receptors, as well as ectoenzymes and cell adhesion molecules (Hooper et al, 1997; Schloendorf and Blobel, 1999). For instance, membrane‐anchored receptors for growth factors and cytokines are shed from the cell surface as soluble molecules and still retain the ability to bind their ligands. Furthermore, cytokines, which are synthesized as transmembrane proteins, have to be cleaved and shed to achieve systemic availability (Rose‐John and Heinrich, 1994). The appropriate balance between the membrane‐bound and the soluble form of a protein may therefore be of high significance for its physiological role (Blobel, 2002). However, ectodomain shedding may also have undesirable consequences by promoting diseases. For example, increased concentrations of shed tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), which is a critical inflammatory mediator, have been shown in patients with active Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis (Elliott et al, 1994; Van Dullemen et al, 1995).

Ectodomain shedding is mediated by members of the metzincin superfamily of zinc‐dependant metalloproteases that include the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and ADAMs (for a disintegrin and metalloprotease) (Blobel, 2000). MMPs are mainly involved in regulated reconstruction of the extracellular matrix during development, differentiation, and wound healing, whereas ADAMs play an important role in development, fertilization, myoblast fusion, and cell–cell interactions in addition to ectodomain shedding. To date, the best‐characterized ADAM is the TNF‐α‐converting enzyme (TACE or ADAM 17). TACE is expressed in many different tissues like heart, placenta, testes, and ovaries, and also in monocytes, T cells, neutrophils, and endothelial cells, and is involved in many physiological processes (Black et al, 1997). Analysis of TACEΔZn/ΔZn mice lacking functional TACE showed defects not only in TNF‐α release but also in shedding of TGF‐α, L‐selectin, and TNF‐receptor p75 (Peschon et al, 1998). In addition, TACE has been implicated in the ectodomain shedding of IL‐1 receptor, Notch receptor, and also in the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (Buxbaum et al, 1998; Brou et al, 2000; Reddy et al, 2000). Involvement of cellular sheddases in the ectodomain shedding of viral surface glycoproteins was hitherto not reported, although the release of soluble glycoproteins has been described for several viruses.

EBOV is a member of the Filoviridae, a family of enveloped, nonsegmented, negative‐stranded RNA viruses. The EBOV genome encodes seven structural proteins and one nonstructural protein, sGP. The pathogenesis of hemorrhagic fever caused by EBOV (mortality rates up to 90%) is only partially understood. It has been suggested, however, that the inability of the host immune system to clear infection is a major factor responsible for the dramatic course of the disease (Peters, 1996).

In this study, we demonstrate that proteolytic cleavage of surface GP of EBOV results in shedding of significant amounts of GP1,2Δ, the soluble form of GP. We also show that the cellular zinc‐dependent metalloprotease TACE, a member of the ADAM proteinase family, is involved in the cleavage of GP and provide evidence that shed GP released during infection efficiently blocks virus‐neutralizing antibodies.

Results

Soluble GP of EBOV contains a truncated GP2 subunit

Release of GP from EBOV‐infected cells was first described by Volchkov et al (1998a). To understand the molecular mechanism of release, RK‐13 cells were infected with recombinant vaccinia virus vSCGP8 expressing GP, labeled 10 h p.i., and chased for 6 h. Cells and culture medium were collected separately, and soluble proteins from the medium were separated by ultracentrifugation. GP from cells and medium was immunoprecipitated using rabbit anti‐GP2 antibodies and analyzed under reducing conditions by SDS–PAGE. In addition to GP2, a protein with slightly higher electrophoretic mobility was identified in the medium, which was designated GP2Δ (Figure 1A). Sedimentation analysis of the medium showed that GP2Δ remained in the supernatant fraction, whereas GP2 was found only in the pellet fraction. GP in the pellet represents membrane‐associated GP1,2 complexes released into the medium as virosome‐like particles (Volchkov et al, 1998a). Sucrose gradient flotation analysis confirmed that GP2Δ is present in a soluble form (see Supplementary Figure 1). Irrespective of the anti‐GP antibodies used for immunoprecipitation (anti‐GP2 or monoclonal anti‐GP antibody KZ52), soluble fractions always showed comparable amounts of GP1 and GP2Δ, indicating that the subunits are linked in the GP1,2Δ complexes as they are in membrane‐bound GP1,2. In order to demonstrate that release of soluble GP1,2Δ is also observed in EBOV infection and not specific for the recombinant expression system, Vero E6, HeLa, or RK‐13 cells were infected with EBOV, and culture medium was harvested 5 days p.i. The presence of virus‐associated GP2 and GP2Δ in the medium was shown by immunoblot analysis using anti‐GP2 antibody. GP2Δ was detected with all three cell lines depending on the susceptibility of cells for EBOV replication (Figure 1B). The amount of soluble GP1,2Δ in the supernatants of all tested cell lines represents up to 20% of the total GP released from virus‐infected cells.

GP2 and GP2Δ have the same glycosylation pattern

It was then of interest to investigate whether a difference in glycosylation pattern was responsible for the appearance of GP2 with low molecular mass (GP2Δ). The GP2 subunit has two potential N‐linked glycosylation sites at positions 563 and 618. Treatment of GP2 with Endo H and PNGase F showed that both sites are glycosylated, one containing a complex type, the other a high‐mannose type oligosaccharide (Figure 2A). To identify the attachment site of each type, two recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing mutated GP were generated, and GP2 from infected cells was analyzed using endoglycosidase treatment. Each mutant had only one glycosylation site, GP618N/T at position 563 or GP563N/T at position 618. The GP618N/T mutant showed sensitivity to Endo H and PNGase F digestion, indicating that the high‐mannose type oligosaccharide is bound at position 563. In contrast, GP2 from the GP563N/T mutant showed Endo H resistance and was sensitive only to PNGase F treatment, indicating that the complex type oligosaccharide is bound at position 618 (Figure 2A).

Analysis of glycosylation pattern of GP2 and GP2Δ. (A) RK‐13 cells were infected with vSCGP8 (wtGP) or vaccinia viruses expressing glycosylation mutants (GP618N/T and GP563N/T) and subjected to pulse‐chase labeling and immunoprecipitation with horse anti‐EBOV Igs followed by endoglycosidase treatment with Endo H or PNGase F. Forms of GP2 differing in N‐glycosylation pattern are indicated as follows: A—containing only complex type oligosaccharides, B—containing only high‐mannose type oligosaccharides, C—completely deglycosylated molecules. (B) Culture medium from Vero E6 cells infected with EBOV was ultracentrifuged, and pellet and supernatant were collected separately. Samples were either treated with Endo H or PNGase F or used untreated. Proteins were analyzed by Western blot.

To confirm that soluble GP released from EBOV‐infected cells has the same glycosylation pattern, Vero E6 cells were infected with EBOV, culture medium was collected 5 days p.i., and membrane‐bound and soluble GP were separated by ultracentrifugation. Culture medium, and supernatant and pellet obtained after centrifugation were analyzed by immunoblotting using anti‐GP2 antibody followed by treatment with Endo H or PNGase F (Figure 2B). Both, GP2Δ and GP2 showed the same glycosylation patterns, confirming that the difference in molecular mass identified by SDS–PAGE is not dependent on glycosylation.

GP1,2Δ is released from the cell surface

In order to investigate the kinetics of the release of GP1,2Δ and also to clarify whether this form of GP is generated intracellularly or at the cell surface, pulse‐chase labeling experiments were performed. RK‐13 cells were infected with vSCGP8, metabolically labeled 7 h p.i., and chased for different time intervals. GP from the medium and cell was analyzed by immunoprecipitation using anti‐GP antibodies. During conversion of the endoplasmic reticulum precursor preGPer into the Golgi precursor preGP and subsequently into mature GP1,2 complexes, no GP2Δ was detected intracellularly. GP1,2Δ complexes were first identified in the culture medium at about 90 min after pulse (Figure 3A). Release of GP1,2 complexes in virosomes was observed later. The absence of GP2Δ within cells supported the notion that GP1,2Δ is released into the medium from the cell surface. For further analysis of the GP release, surface labeling experiments were performed. RK‐13 cells were infected with vSCGP8 and surface biotinylated 10 h p.i. Culture supernatants and cells were collected separately at different time intervals. GP was immunoprecipitated and analyzed by SDS–PAGE followed by detection of biotinylated GP with HRP‐coupled streptavidin. Kinetic studies showed that soluble GP was released from the cell surface and that most of the GP remained membrane‐associated even 12 h after labeling (Figure 3B). A maximum of soluble GP was detected 4 h post labeling. Prolonged incubation did not lead to increased release. Taken together, these data suggest that GP1,2Δ complexes are released from the cell surface due to proteolytic cleavage by cellular proteases.

Kinetics of release and oligomeric structure of soluble GP. (A) RK‐13 cells infected with vSCGP8 were pulse‐chase labeled and proteins were immunoprecipitated from cells (left panel) and medium (right panel). (B) Surface biotinylation of RK‐13 cells expressing EBOV GP. Release of biotin‐labeled GP from the cell surface into culture supernatant was observed at indicated time intervals. (C) Analysis of the oligomeric structure of shed GP. Vero E6 cells were infected with EBOV. At 5 days p.i., virus from culture medium was pelleted through a 20% sucrose cushion, and subsequently the supernatant and virus were analyzed by ultracentrifugation at linear sucrose gradients in the presence of 1% NP‐40 and 0.4% DOC. Fractions 1–15 were collected from the bottom and analyzed by Western blot. Due to the effect of several detergents present in the samples such as NP‐40, DOC, and finally SDS, the bands appeared slightly more diffused compared to other analyses.

Previously, it has been shown that the spikes of filoviruses are GP trimers (Sanchez et al, 1998). In order to determine whether GP1,2Δ is present in solution as an oligomer, centrifugation analysis using linear sucrose gradients was performed. Culture medium from EBOV‐infected cells was clarified from virus particles by centrifugation through a 20% sucrose cushion. Supernatant and virus pellet were solubilized with 1% NP‐40 and 0.4% DOC and subjected to ultracentrifugation on linear 5–25% sucrose gradients. Western blot analysis of the fractions collected from the bottom of the gradient using anti‐GP2 antibody showed that GP from virions is present only in fractions 5–8 (Figure 3C) corresponding well to previous work where GP was identified as a trimer (Sanchez et al, 1998). Soluble GP from culture medium was found at the same position in the gradients and therefore is also in a trimeric form. However, after solubilization and ultracentrifugation in the presence of 1% NP‐40 and 0.4% DOC, most of GP1,2Δ was detected in lighter sucrose fractions, obviously representing dimers and monomers. These results indicate that GP1,2Δ trimers appear to be rather labile and easily dissociated compared to virion GP1,2.

EBOV GP is cleaved at amino‐acid position D637

To map the region of the putative cleavage site, plasmids encoding GP deletion mutants were generated, and expression of GP was analyzed. ΔTM is a mutant lacking the transmembrane anchor. Δ640 and Δ630 are mutants lacking, in addition, 10 or 20 adjacent amino acids (Figure 4A). After expression in HeLa cells, GP from medium was subjected to PNGase F treatment and Western blot analysis (Figure 4B). Soluble GP released from EBOV‐infected HeLa cells (GP2) and GP from viral particles were used as wild‐type controls. As indicated in Figure 4B, GP2Δ released from EBOV‐infected HeLa cells migrated on polyacrylamide gels at a position between Δ630 GP2 and ΔTM GP2. These data allowed mapping of the cleavage position to a region of 10 aa between F630 and D640 (Figure 4A and B).

To determine the exact position of the cleavage site, Vero E6 cells were infected with EBOV, culture medium was collected 5 days p.i., and soluble GP1,2Δ was purified from the medium by affinity chromatography using anti‐GP2 antibody. Additional purification was achieved using wheat germ lectin agarose chromatography. Finally, N‐glycans were removed from purified GP1,2Δ complexes by PNGase F treatment. GP1 and GP2Δ subunits were separated after incubation with DTT, and sulfide groups of cysteine residues were blocked by alkylation with iodacetamide. Absence of the linkage between subunits in treated samples was confirmed by SDS–PAGE analysis performed under nonreducing conditions followed by silver staining and by immunoblotting using anti‐GP2 antibody that showed a single GP2‐specific band migrating as a protein of about 14.3 kDa (Figure 4C). Analysis of this sample by MALDI‐TOF MS revealed four peaks in the mass spectra (Figure 4D). The broad signal around 18 000 is typical for protein degradation products resulting from laser desorption. Two peaks corresponded to the PNGase F added to the sample. One of these peaks represents a single protonated ion [M+H]+ with a mass/charge ratio of 35 157. It corresponds well with the theoretical mass of PNGase F (34 836 or 35 094 following alkylation of cysteine residues). The experimental error was therefore 0.18%. A second PNGase F peak represents a doubly protonated ion [M+2H]2+ with a mass/charge ratio only half as big (17 606). Truncated GP2Δ showed an average mass of 15 551 from which the mass of the attached carboxyamidoyl groups had to be subtracted. The resulting mass of 15 336 is in good agreement with the theoretical mass of 15 332 for GP2Δ terminating at D637 (Figure 4D).

In order to confirm the data obtained by mass spectrometry and to define a recognition motif required for the cleavage of EBOV GP, several recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing GP mutants with single amino‐acid changes in the immediate vicinity of D637 were generated. RK‐13 cells were infected with these recombinant vaccinia viruses, cells were metabolically labeled 7 h p.i., and chased for the next 10 h. GP from cells and medium was immunoprecipitated with specific antibodies, proteins were separated by SDS–PAGE, and GP2 was quantified on a Bio‐imager using PC‐Bas software. GP expression levels were comparable for most mutants, but there were differences in the extent of GP shedding into the medium (Figure 4E). In case of mutants 634T/I, 635L/V, 636P/A, 639G/V, and del634–640, amounts of shed GP were reduced up to 60% indicating that the amino‐acid residues T634, L635, P636, and G639 may contribute to recognition and cleavage. Interestingly, two other mutants, 637D/V and 637D/L, showed a substantial increase in GP shedding (see Supplementary Figure 3). Exchange of the negatively charged aspartate to an uncharged residue at positions D632, D640, or D642 did not result in increase of shedding, however.

Inhibitors of zinc‐dependent metalloproteinases prevent GP shedding

To characterize the cellular enzyme responsible for the shedding of GP1,2Δ, a number of known inhibitors of proteinases were tested (Table I). RK‐13 or 293 cells expressing GP were pulse labeled and chased with medium containing protease inhibitors. The medium was collected 8 h after addition of inhibitors, and GP was precipitated using specific antibodies. Proteins were separated by SDS–PAGE, and GP2Δ bands were quantified by Bio‐imaging. Several compounds showed more than 50% inhibition of GP shedding. The highest inhibitory effects were observed with the hydroxamic acid‐based inhibitors: BB2516 used at a concentration of 0.5 μM, and GM 6001 and MMP‐8 inhibitor I used at a concentration of 5 μM. Other inhibitors, such as MMP‐3 inhibitor II, CGS‐27023A, and TAPI‐I, reduced GP shedding at higher concentrations (25–50 μM). The effect of all these inhibitors was concentration dependent (see Supplementary Figure 2). The inhibition of shedding by 1,10‐phenanthroline (1 mM) was reversible after addition of zinc ions. Natural inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases such as TIMP‐1, ‐2, ‐3, and ‐4 did not inhibit GP shedding. Taken together, these data suggest that the protease responsible for EBOV GP shedding belongs to the proteinase superfamily of zinc‐dependent metalloproteinases.

TACE is involved in GP shedding

TACE is a widely expressed protease that has been shown to cleave the ectodomains of different cellular transmembrane glycoproteins (Black et al, 1997). This enzyme is also expressed by cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system that are the primary target for EBOV infection. Involvement of TACE in EBOV GP shedding was first investigated on 293 cells. Although there is some GP shedding in 293 cells resulting, most likely, from endogenous TACE, there was a distinct enhancement of shedding when the enzyme was overexpressed. For this purpose, cells were transfected simultaneously with two plasmids, one expressing EBOV GP and another expressing recombinant TACE. Whereas synthesis of GP was not affected by coexpression of TACE, we observed an increase of 70% in shedding of GP1,2Δ (Figure 5A). To further confirm involvement of TACE in GP shedding, we also performed conditional TACE knockout using ASOs. 293 cells were infected with vSCGP8 and subsequently transfected with different anti‐TACE ASO. Culture medium and cells were collected separately after pulse‐chase labeling and subjected to immunoprecipitation with anti‐GP antibodies. Anti‐TACE ASO treatment reduced GP shedding by 30% (ASO4) to 45% (ASO2) as compared to untreated controls (Figure 5B). Treatment with ASO2M and ASO4M, which had four nucleotide mismatches with human TACE, did not affect GP shedding.

Involvement of TACE in EBOV GP shedding. (A) 293 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1‐GP or co‐transfected with pcDNA3.1‐GP and pcDNA3Mu TACE FL. At 36 h p.t., cells were pulse labeled and chased for 8 h. Labeled proteins were analyzed by immunoprecipitation. (B) 293 cells were infected with vSCGP8 and subsequently transfected with ASOs. Mismatch ASO2M and ASO4M were used as negative controls. At 7 h p.t., cells were labeled and chased for 8 h. Proteins from culture medium were analyzed by immunoprecipitation. (C) EC‐2 cells (TACEΔZn/ΔZn) lacking functional TACE were transfected with pcDNA3.1‐GP or co‐transfected with pcDNA3Mu TACE FL and pcDNA3.1‐GP. Cells were pulse‐chase labeled 18 h p.t., and medium and cells were analyzed by immunoprecipitation. For all three panels (A–C) statistical analysis using at least three independent experiments has been performed. Mean values of GP release (% ±s.d.) are shown in bars. Quantification of the released GP2Δ was performed using Fuji BAS 1000 Bio‐Imaging Analyzer.

Final proof for the involvement of TACE in shedding of GP was obtained in experiments with the mouse fibroblast cell line EC‐2 expressing nonfunctional TACE due to a deletion in the zinc‐binding domain (Peschon et al, 1998). The level of GP expression in these TACE‐deficient fibroblasts was comparable to other cell lines, but GP shedding was almost abrogated. However, shedding was restored after coexpression of GP and TACE cDNA (Figure 5C). This experiment clearly demonstrates that TACE is a cellular secretase involved in the shedding of EBOV GP.

Soluble GP is present in the blood of infected guinea pigs and inhibits the neutralizing activity of the EBOV‐specific antibody KZ52

Immunoprecipitation of shed GP by the virus‐neutralizing antibody KZ52 (Figure 1A) provided the first evidence that it may serve as a decoy during EBOV infection. To investigate whether shed GP can prevent neutralization of EBOV, a neutralization inhibition assay was established. In this assay, KZ52 antibody neutralized EBOV infectivity (>60%) at a concentration of 0.6 μg/ml as previously described by Maruyama et al (1999). The virus‐neutralizing activity of KZ52 was completely blocked in the presence of equimolar amounts of affinity‐purified shed GP (Figure 6A). The inhibitory effect depended specifically on the interaction of GP with the antibody as indicated by the observation that it was abrogated when the amount of GP was reduced to a molar GP/antibody ratio of 1/10. As shown in the control experiments, shed GP did not markedly affect virus replication, when added alone to infected cell cultures.

GP1,2Δ is present in the blood of infected guinea pigs and is able to inhibit the virus‐neutralizing activity of human monoclonal antibody KZ52. (A) Virus neutralization inhibition assays were performed using different EBOV dilutions in the presence of KZ52 antibody or shed GP or both at indicated concentrations. Total number of infectious units obtained for each reaction is indicated in bars. (B) Vero E6 cells were infected with EBOV and culture medium collected 5 days p.i. (EBOV‐m). Guinea pigs (strain Hartley) were infected intraperitoneally with 1 × 103 PFU/animal of guinea pig‐adapted EBOV (Volchkov et al, 2000). At days 6 and 9 p.i. (EBOV‐6d, EBOV‐9d), GP2, GP2Δ, and VP40 were identified in sera (sr) and in culture medium (m) by Western blot analysis using specific antibodies. Samples from blood (at day 9 p.i.) and culture medium were either treated with Endo H or PNGase F or used untreated.

To demonstrate that shed GP is also present in the blood of infected animals, guinea pigs were infected with a guinea pig‐adapted EBOV variant, and blood samples were collected 6 and 9 days p.i. Release of the virus into the blood was confirmed by virus titrations (∼2 × 102 and ∼5 × 104 infectious units, respectively) and by Western blot analysis using anti‐VP40 antibodies. The low VP40 signal and the inability to detect virion GP2 correspond to the relatively low virus titers found in the blood. In contrast, there was a remarkably high amount of truncated GP2Δ (Figure 6B). Comparative analysis of deglycosylated glycoproteins obtained from cell culture medium and blood clearly demonstrated that the latter one was GP2Δ. It has to be pointed out that the increase in the amount of shed GP detected between days 6 and 9 correlates well with the course of illness and the lethal outcome at day 9 p.i. This suggests that shed GP plays an important role in pathogenesis.

Discussion

Soluble glycoproteins have been described for a number of viruses (Morimoto et al, 1993; Malvoisin and Wild, 1994; Roberts et al, 1994), but little is known about the mechanisms and the biological significance of their release. Premature termination of translation has been suggested to be responsible for release of the carboxy‐terminally truncated G protein of VSV (type I transmembrane glycoprotein) (Grünberg et al, 1991). Solubilization of the G protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a type II transmembrane glycoprotein, was thought to depend on the use of an alternative translation start codon that made the protein sensitive to cleavage by signal peptidase (Roberts et al, 1994).

Here we show that EBOV glycoprotein GP is effectively shed from infected cells owing to proteolytic cleavage within the transmembrane subunit GP2 that removes the transmembrane anchor and liberates the ectodomain consisting of GP1 and truncated GP2Δ. GP containing truncated GP2 was detected exclusively extracellularly indicating that cleavage takes place at the cell surface. The kinetics of shedding suggested that cleavage occurs immediately after the arrival of GP at the plasma membrane. Interestingly, the fraction of released GP did not increase upon further exposure at the cell surface, suggesting conversion from a cleavage‐sensitive to a cleavage‐insensitive form. It has been recently shown that mature GP is incorporated at the plasma membrane into lipid rafts (Bavari et al, 2002), but it remains to be seen if protection from shedding depends on raft association. To determine the exact cleavage site, shed GP was purified from culture supernatants of virus‐infected cells using affinity column chromatography. Mass spectrometrical analysis of purified GP showed that the carboxy‐terminus of truncated GP2 is Asp at position 637 (LPD637↓Q638GD). Single amino‐acid substitutions placed around the cleavage site modulated the intensity of GP shedding. None of the introduced mutations, however, led to complete blockage of GP cleavage and shedding. Interestingly, exchange of the negatively charged Asp at position 637 to uncharged residues resulted in an increase of GP shedding. The generated sequence LPVQ corresponds to the known cleavage site of the IL‐6 receptor recognized by TACE, a member of the ADAM family of zinc‐dependent metalloproteinases (Althoff et al, 2000). The notion that such an enzyme is involved in GP shedding was further supported by proteinase inhibition studies. Direct evidence for the involvement of TACE was obtained by the finding that GP shedding was drastically reduced in the TACE‐deficient cell line EC‐2 (Peschon et al, 1998), but could be restored by transfection with plasmids encoding TACE. Additional proof for TACE as a post‐translational processing enzyme for EBOV GP was achieved by conditional knockout experiments using TACE‐specific ASOs. Although these observations, taken together, clearly show that TACE is responsible for GP release, we cannot completely rule out that other shedding enzymes, such as ADAM 9 and ADAM 10, also play a role. However, it is unlikely that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that also belong to the metzincin superfamily are involved in shedding of GP because none of the tested natural inhibitors of these enzymes inhibited the release of GP.

Proteases releasing proteins from the cell surface like TACE are designated sheddases or secretases (Hooper et al, 1997). In contrast to many other cellular proteases (subtilisin‐like endoproteases for instance), there is no apparent sequence homology between the cleavage sites recognized by secretases (Hooper et al, 1997; Müllberg et al, 2000). The cleavage sites of TACE, for example, on TNF‐α, L‐selectin, and APP do not show a consensus sequence (Black et al, 1997; Buxbaum et al, 1998; Peschon et al, 1998). The distance between the cleavage site and the transmembrane anchor appears to be more important for the efficiency of shedding than a strict sequence motif, although the distance may vary considerably with different proteins, ranging from eight residues (TNF‐R‐p55; IL‐6R and TGF‐α) to 36 residues (rat β4 heregulin) (Ehlers et al, 1996). Folded domains have never been shown to be affected by shedding enzymes, presumably because the proteases have no access to potential cleavable sequences (Althoff et al, 2001). Moreover, structural changes within the juxtamembrane domain, which increase molecular dynamics and disorder, appear to render a protein susceptible to cellular sheddases. The cleavage site of EBOV GP fulfills these requirements, since it is located 13 aa upstream of the transmembrane anchor (W651‐C672) and five residues downstream of an α‐helical domain (W615‐F630).

As has been pointed out above, release of cellular proteins into the extracellular environment is a control mechanism of numerous cell functions. Likewise, GP shedding may play an important regulatory role in virus replication and pathogenesis. Enhanced cleavage, as observed here with two mutants of GP, should reduce the amount of GP on the cell surface available for formation of virus particles. Less‐efficient cleavage or even the absence of cleavage may also have serious consequences, since EBOV GP is cytotoxic when overexpressed in cells (Chan et al, 2000; Yang et al, 2000; Volchkov et al, 2001). In this respect, it is important to note that the highly pathogenic Zaire EBOV differs in the amino‐acid sequence at the shedding site from other subtypes, including the apathogenic Reston EBOV. Whether these sequence variations are reflected by differences in shedding efficiency should be investigated in future studies using recombinant Ebola viruses (Volchkov et al, 2001).

Detection of truncated GP2 in the blood of infected animals proves that GP shedding occurs not only in cell culture but also in in vivo infection. Comparison of the relative amounts of GP2Δ and VP40 in cell culture medium and in sera suggests that the shedding rate in animals is dramatically higher than in Vero cells. There is increasing evidence for immunosuppression in lethal EBOV infection, which in part is explained by infection of monocytes and macrophages, the primary targets of the virus (Ryabchikova et al, 1996; Hensley et al, 2002). However, the disease is also characterized by an inability of the immune system to recognize virus‐infected cells. Electron microscopical data obtained with EBOV‐infected animals indicated that there was almost no immune attack on infected and virus‐producing cells. In spite of extensive necrosis and massive virus reproduction, tissues showed no inflammatory reactions. GP1,2Δ released from infected cells very likely contributes to this immune suppression by absorbing antibodies that otherwise interact with virus or virus‐infected cells. This is indicated by our observations that GP1,2Δ is shed in infected guinea pigs and that it is recognized by the human monoclonal antibody KZ52. This antibody binds to GP on virions and on the surface of infected cells, neutralizes EBOV in cell culture, and protects guinea pigs from lethal EBOV infection (Parren et al, 2002). However, the protection of guinea pigs required a high dose of KZ52 antibody administered close to the time of virus challenge. This could, again, be explained by a decoy function of shed GP blocking the virus‐neutralizing activity of KZ52. For the same reason, attempts to protect monkeys by passive transfer of antibodies may have failed (Jahrling et al, 1996). It appears, however, that the decoy problem no longer exists in the presence of high antibody titers and a strong T‐cell response against GP as is the case after protective immunization of monkeys with a vaccine based on replication‐defective adenovirus (Sullivan et al, 2003).

We have previously reported that soluble GP1 devoid of GP2 is secreted from HeLa cells, presumably resulting from the release of the disulfide bond linking both subunits (Volchkov et al, 1998a). However, since soluble GP1 has neither been detected in cell culture fluid from several other cell lines nor in infected animals, it is unlikely to play a major biological role. Similarly, it is questionable if the secreted glycoprotein sGP, which has also been speculated to act as a decoy (Sanchez et al, 1996; Ito et al, 2001), is a suitable candidate for this function, since despite sharing most of its amino‐acid sequence with the envelope glycoprotein it significantly differs in tertiary and quaternary structures (Volchkova et al, 1998; Sanchez et al, 1998). Furthermore, the glycoprotein of Marburg virus, another member of the Filoviridae family causing a similar disease, is also shed from infected cells (VE Volchkov, unpublished results), whereas sGP is not expressed in this case due to a different GP gene organization. This also underlines the role of GP shedding as an important factor in pathogenesis.

In conclusion, we show that the ectodomain of EBOV GP is released in soluble form from the cell surface following proteolytic cleavage with involvement of ADAMs and particularly TACE. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the shedding mechanism of a viral membrane glycoprotein. It is likely that other viruses shed their surface glycoproteins in a similar manner with the same enzyme involvement. Our observations that a significant amount of shed GP is present in the blood of infected animals and that GP1,2Δ can effectively block neutralizing antibodies provide evidence for a novel viral escape mechanism from the host's immune response. It is feasible to postulate that shed GP has other functions in addition to acting as a decoy. Shed GP may well interact with several types of cells involved in Ebola pathogenicity, and this is an area for further investigations.

Oligomerization analysis

Vero E6 cells were infected with EBOV at an moi of 10−2 PFU/cell, and culture medium was collected 5 days p.i. Medium was clarified by low‐speed centrifugation and virus was pelleted through a 20% sucrose cushion by ultracentrifugation (Beckman SW28 rotor, 25 000 rpm, 1 h, 4°C). Pelleted virus and supernatant were solubilized with 1% NP‐40 and 0.4% DOC and subjected to ultracentrifugation (Beckman SW41 rotor, 270 000 g, 19 h, 10°C) through a linear 5–25% (w/w) sucrose gradient prepared with Co‐IP buffer. Fractions were collected from the bottom to the top, proteins separated by SDS–PAGE and analyzed by Western blot using rabbit ant‐GP2 Igs (1:2000) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)‐conjugated goat anti‐rabbit antibody (1:30 000). Detection was performed with enhanced chemoluminescence (ECL) technique (Perbio Science) following the manufacturer's instructions.

Surface biotinylation

RK‐13 cells were infected with vSCGP8 at an moi of 10 PFU/cell. At 10 h p.i., cells were washed with PBS and incubated twice for 20 min with 2 mg Sulfo‐NHS‐Biotin (Calbiochem) in PBS at 4°C. Unbound biotin was blocked with 100 mM glycine. To monitor the release of surface proteins into medium, cells were incubated at 37°C and culture medium and cells were collected at different time intervals. Biotin‐labeled proteins from supernatants obtained after ultracentrifugation (25 000 rpm, 1 h, 4°C) of medium and cells lysed in CO‐IP buffer were immunoprecipitated with anti‐EBOV Igs. Samples were analyzed by Western blot using streptavidin‐coupled HRP and the ECL technique.

Single or multiple amino‐acid exchanges and deletions in GP encoded by pSC‐mGP8 or pGEM‐mGP8 were introduced by site‐directed mutagenesis (Stratagene). The construction of recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing EBOV GP mutants was performed as described elsewhere (Volchkov et al, 1995).

Antisense oligonucleotide treatment

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) were synthesized by Sigma and designed to hybridize to human TACE mRNA. The ASOs contained five 2′‐O‐methyl modifications on the 5′‐ and 3′‐ends and were uniformly modified with phosphorothioate linkages. Sequences used were as follows: ASO2—TCAGCATTTCGACGTTACTG; ASO4—CCCTAGTCAGTGCTGTTAT; ASO5—CCTACTGTACAGGGCTTTCC; ASO2M—TCAGCTTCTCAACATTACTG; ASO4M—CCCTAGTGATTTCAGTTATC (mismatch residues are underlined). 293 cells were infected with vSCGP8 at an moi of 10 PFU/cell and subsequently transfected with ASOs at a final concentration of 10 μM using lipofectin (Gibco). At 7 h p.t., cells were labeled and chased for 8 h. Labeled proteins from cells and culture medium were subjected to immunoprecipitation analysis.

Neutralization inhibition assay

Two‐fold serial dilutions of EBOV stock (3.5 × 104 PFU/ml) were prepared on DMEM. Virus dilutions were preincubated with human EBOV‐neutralizing antibody KZ52 at a final concentration of 0.6 μg/ml, or with purified shed GP at different concentrations, or with a mixture of KZ52 and shed GP for 1 h at room temperature. Vero E6 cells were then inoculated with 100 μl of each mixture. Cells infected with different EBOV dilutions were used as controls. Cells were treated with 4% paraformaldehyde 30 h p.i., permeabilized with 0.1% Triton X‐100, and incubated with mouse monoclonal anti‐NP antibody (1:300) and then with peroxidase‐conjugated sheep‐anti‐mouse antibody (1:1000). Infectious units (single blue cells or groups of stained cells) were visualized after incubation with TrueBlue™ peroxidase substrate (KPL) and counted per well.

Supplementary Information

Acknowledgements

We thank R Black, D Burton, P Parren, B Moss, H Eckhard, H Scheffczik, and M Matrosovich for reagents and helpful discussions; R Buckland for critical reading of the manuscript; C Laukel for expert technical help; and H Contamin and P Loth for assistance in animal experiments. All experiments involving EBOV were carried out in biosafety level 4 laboratories at the Institute of Virology in Marburg, Germany, and at the Jean Merieux P4 Center in Lyon, France. This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 286 and 593), from INSERM, from the Fondation pour La Recherche Médical, from the Direction Générale de L'ARMÉE (No. 1.34.027.00.470.75.01), and by grant R21 AI53571‐01 from the NIH. OD is a recipient of a Feodor Lynen Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.